“I was just mentally, emotionally, in a bad spot that specific night,” Rebecca said. “But a few minutes later, I got a call from Julie [from the Philadelphia Eagles] and she said, ‘We’ve got some great news. We’ve been thinking about you guys a lot, and we’ve got six tickets to the Super Bowl for you, and we want you guys here. We wish Lukas could be here with us, but we want you guys out here with us.’ I was pretty floored by it. It was quite a shock.” A special connection between Lukas and quarterback Carson Wentz has led to a bond between his family and the Eagles organization. Known as the Dutch Destroyer for his ferocity of spirit and style of play on the football field, Lukas — the biggest of Eagles fans — used Wentz’s hope for inspiration as he took on what doctors immediately described as the fight of his life. Hearing about Lukas from one of his radiation technicians, Wentz sent him a video of encouragement while he was in the hospital. Lukas’ Make-A-Wish was to thank Wentz for that gesture. The two spent a day together at the Eagles’ practice facility, and that’s when Lukas gave Wentz a “Dutch Destroyer” bracelet that Wentz wears every day, even during games.

Dawk could literally do everything and do it well. He could play in the slot as the Nickel back. He could drop 20 yards deep and be the centerfielder. Dawk played LB in the Nickel at times. He could be the 8th man in the box and help to shut down the run game. Dawk didn’t just do these things, he did them well. The most underrated aspect of Dawk’s game is simply…preventing points. I can’t tell you how many times I saw him chase down a runner or receiver that had broken free. Even if he got the player down at the 10 or even 5-yard line, Dawk was going to make the opponent earn that TD. There were plenty of times when the Eagles would then play good Red Zone defense and only give up a FG. From 2000-2008, the Eagles allowed 17.7 points per game, the 4th lowest total in that span. Dawk was the primary reason why.

Sunday will be the biggest game of the year for the Eagles. For most of the players, it will be the biggest game of their lives. How do you win such a big game? By treating it like business as usual. I know some of you will think that’s crazy. It really isn’t. The Eagles have been incredibly consistent all year long, treating each game with equal importance. That helped the team to play at a consistent level and kept them from the dreaded “trap game” that so many fans and outsiders worry about. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked about the Patriots as his team prepared to play other teams. Pittsburgh didn’t stay focused and never got its postseason showdown with the Patriots. The Jaguars talked about winning the Super Bowl before even playing in the AFC title game. Instead of winning the Super Bowl, they’ll be watching it.

Nearly 60 percent of Philadelphia’s rushes came out of 11 personnel this season, the third-highest rate in the NFL behind the Raiders and Rams. The Eagles also regularly ran the ball from the shotgun out of 11. The vast majority of Jay Ajayi’s carries have come in these scenarios, and the back, who was acquired at the trade deadline, has proved lethal out of that alignment. He could be in line for a monster day. Finding success in the running game could make the Eagles’ trademark run-pass options all the more effective. With the Pats scrambling to stop the run out of shotgun formations, Foles could find plenty of simple throws over the middle. That could keep the ball in his hands and out of Brady’s.

Eagles-Patriots Super Bowl LII scouting report – Daily News
The Eagles finished third in rushing (132.2 yards per game) and fourth in per-rush average (4.5 per carry) during the regular season. They have one of the league’s best offensive lines, but the ground game wasn’t as good late in the year as it was early. They have averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in their two postseason games. In their last seven games, including the playoffs, they have averaged 4.0 yards per carry, and just 3.5 on first down. In their previous nine games, they averaged 5.2 yards per carry on first down. They have just one rushing touchdown in the last eight games (LeGarrette Blount’s 11-yarder in the NFC championship game). Jay Ajayi is an explosive back, who has been most effective early in games. He has averaged 6.1 yards per carry in the first quarter in the Eagles’ last seven games, but only 3.0 in last three quarters. Ajayi has a tendency to fumble — seven times in the last two years. The Patriots allowed 4.7 yards per carry this season, which was the second-worst mark in the league, but they held Jacksonville’s No. 1-ranked ground game to 3.2 yards per carry in the AFC championship game. Edge: Eagles.

Favre ‘honored’ to give Eagles Super Bowl advice – NBC Sports Philadelphia
Brett Favre thought Doug Pederson was joking when he asked him to speak with his Eagles team the day before Super Bowl LII. He wasn’t. ”But when I realized he was serious,” Favre said, “I was honored.” NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark caught up with Favre after the 48-year-old Hall of Famer addressed the Eagles at their team hotel, the Radisson Blu, on Saturday morning. Favre said he started his speech by letting the players know he wasn’t going to tell them things they didn’t already know. He just wanted to offer words of encouragement. He said he thought it was a good way to break the tension. ”They’re a tremendous team,” Favre told Clark, recalling what he told the Eagles. “Their quarterback is the greatest to ever play, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach to ever coach. You know what they’re about. They’re going to play the whole game. Don’t ever say … like last year, we have it won and we’re going to go through the drive-thru, that’s not a good idea.”